FREE Email Newsletter

Product safety certification/approval is the process of evaluating an electrical product to applicable standards and/or specifications, which are dictated by the type of product and the locality for which the sale of the product is intended.
Product safety standards were typically written and enforced on a country by country level. Early on, the local nature of the regulations were not problematic, as local markets tended to be served by local manufacturers; American manufacturers built products for American consumers, Japanese manufacturers built for the Japanese consumers, and so on.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced the ENERGY STAR program in 1992 to encourage the production and use of energy-efficient devices in more than sixty different product categories. Program results have been dramatic-a desktop computer that once consumed 30 watts in sleep mode now uses only 4 watts-with estimated savings of more than 213 billion kilowatts and $12 billion in its first eighteen years.

Significant changes are happening to European environmental regulations. While there has been a great deal of discussion and debate over the past few years, in June 2011 the European Union issued Directive 2011/65/ EU on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. The new directive recasts Directive 2002/95/EC, and has come to be known in the industry as the RoHS Recast. While many of these changes seem confusing, compliance will be mandatory for any company that hopes to sell into that territory. This paper seeks to cut through the complications and lay a foundation that is easy to understand.

Both the Lithium-ion (Li-ion) and Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) battery markets are expected to grow over the next several years. Applications with high voltage and capacity requirements are adopting Li-ion technology because of its many advantages- especially the high energy density, small size and low weight that this technology provides. Historically, SLA batteries have had a few superior technical traits, in addition to their extremely low cost, that have kept them leading the majority of the overall battery market. However, recent innovations in Li-ion chemistry has made it extremely competitive in markets that are weight sensitive and inconvenienced by SLA’s need for frequent maintenance. Many devices have required batteries for power back-up and these are primed for direct Li-ion replacement of SLA. In the medical market alone, these applications include infusion pumps, ventilators, wheelchairs and workstation carts. This paper will outline the technical and business considerations involved in converting an existing product from SLA to Li-ion.

Many medical devices are moving from simple back-up power to true portability. This creates challenges unique to medical devices and adds new advances in battery technology that can enhance and differentiate portable medical products. This white paper will look at the following advances in portable battery technology and the special considerations for medical device applications:
•Lithium Ion (Li-ion) chemistries' advantages over older technology
•Fuel gauging accuracy
•Unique form factors using Li-Polymer
•Use of Lithium Iron Phosphate for high current and Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) replacement
•Sterilization of Li-ion for surgical equipment

Lithium polymer batteries have become common in single-cell consumer applications like cell phones and MP3 players, but industrial and commercial applications are now putting them to good use as well. The thin and custom shaped cells are now used in large, complex packs. This white paper is an overview of the advantages, disadvantages and guidelines for using Lithium polymer based battery packs. It looks at Lithium polymer cells versus metal-cased cylindrical and prismatic Li-ion cells and gives a brief description of battery pack construction considerations.

Battery packs are no longer a simple configuration of cells. They are carefully engineered products with many safety features. The main components include of a battery pack include; the cells, which are the primary energy source, the printed circuit board, which provides the intelligence of the system with features such as the fuel gauge and protection circuitry, the plastic enclosure, external contacts, and insulation.

Suntron shares a common goal of Quality with its Customer’s.
IPC workmanship standards are used to provide uniformity and consistency in the
product that is built. To ensure that the Quality level is maintained, the Cost
of Poor Quality is monitored with respect to internal process controls.

Since its 2003 launch, Protomold's Design Tips monthly email newsletter has been a popular and useful resource for design engineers. Now, 80+ issues are available in 7 handy, downloadable volumes. Each compilation features useful tips, advice, and guidelines on everything from selecting materials to designing parts efficiently and cost-effectively. Download our newest volume today.

This quick-reference user guide, for engineers and designers, talks about the guidelines and limitations for rapid injection molding. Learn how to get the best possible results for your real plastic molded parts. Download Protomold’s Designing for Moldability, 2nd edition.

Whether you are new to the field or an expert, we’ve created a white paper you shouldn’t miss, Prototyping Processes: Choosing the best process for your project. It's packed full of excellent info on strength, finish, material properties, and more.
Proto Labs, through its First Cut and Protomold services, is the world’s fastest source for custom CNC machined and injection molded parts. Get real materials, real functionality, and real value – in as little as one business day. Really.

In the design and development of safe, effective medical devices, reducing risk and ensuring reliability are a manufacturer's primary responsibility. Not only are these dimensions of product quality mandated by various national and international organizations, they are a moral and ethical imperative due to the significant impact that medical devices can have on human lives.

An effective Corrective Action process can help organizations improve products and services, meet product warranty goals, and unite the work of personnel responsible for product quality and reliability. But companies with geographically dispersed teams and complex product requirements must overcome a number of challenges to implement a successful Corrective Action process.

An informative White Paper on current sense transformer technology from Datatronics Distribution, Inc. provides application design guidelines for users. Accurate, easy to implement and reliable under harsh environmental and thermal conditions, current sense transformers are generally used for control, circuit-protection and monitoring features in electronic systems. As off-the-shelf current sense transformers become increasingly available, our white paper provides simple guidelines to assist with component selection and enable engineers to achieve higher levels of reliability, quality and cost-effectiveness.